Abstract:

A container treatment plant (1) and a container treatment method for the
treatment of containers (2, 3) capable of being filled with a product are
described. The container treatment plant (1) comprises a plurality of
treatment elements (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31), wherein each treatment
element (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31) is used for a pre-determined treatment
of the containers (2, 3) and each treatment element (11 to 19, 21 to 27,
31) has associated therewith a container nominal value which indicates
which type of container (2, 3) the treatment element (11 to 19, 21 to 27,
31) can treat, a detection device (100) for detecting properties of one
of the containers (2, 3) to be treated, and a comparator device (150) for
comparing a detection result of the detection device (100) with the
container nominal value for at least one treatment element (11 to 19, 21
to 27, 31).

Claims:

1. A container treatment plant (1) for the treatment of containers (2, 3)
capable of being filled with a product, with a plurality of treatment
elements (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31), wherein each treatment element (11 to
19, 21 to 27, 31) is used for a pre-determined treatment of the
containers (2, 3) and each treatment element (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31) has
associated therewith a container nominal value which indicates which type
of container (2, 3) the treatment element (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31) can
treat, a detection device (100) for detecting properties of one of the
containers (2, 3) to be treated, and a comparator device (150) for
comparing a detection result of the detection device (100) with the
container nominal value for at least one treatment element (11 to 19, 21
to 27, 31).

2. A container treatment plant according to claim 1, in addition, with an
adaptor device (120) for adapting at least one treatment element (11 to
19, 21 to 27, 31) of the plurality of treatment elements (11 to 19, 21 to
27, 31) if a comparison carried out by the comparator device (150)
reveals that the detection result of the detection device (100) is not
equal to the container nominal value for the at least one treatment
element (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31).

3. A container treatment plant according to claim 2, wherein the adaptor
device (120) is designed in such a way that it adapts the at least one
treatment element (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31) of the plurality of treatment
elements (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31) by exchanging the at least one
treatment element (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31).

4. A container treatment plant according to claim 2, wherein the adaptor
device (120) is designed in such a way that it adapts the at least one
treatment element (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31) of the plurality of treatment
elements (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31) by adjusting the at least one treatment
element (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31).

5. A container treatment plant according to claim 1, in addition with a
list compilation device (160) for compiling a list in which the treatment
elements (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31) are listed for which the comparison
carried out by the comparator device (150) reveals that the detection
result of the detection device is not equal to the container nominal
value for the at least one treatment element (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31).

6. A container treatment plant according to claim 2, in addition with a
calculation device (170) for calculating a sequence of adapting at least
one treatment element (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31) of the plurality of
treatment elements (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31), in which sequence an opening
of a protection device (4) of the container treatment plant (1) is not
impeded by the adaptation of at least one treatment element (11 to 19, 21
to 27, 31) of the plurality of treatment elements (11 to 19, 21 to 27,
31).

7. A container treatment plant according to claim 1, in addition with a
device for stopping the container treatment plant (1) if a comparison
carried out by the comparator device (150) reveals that the detection
result of the detection device is not equal to the container nominal
value for the at least one treatment element (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31).

8. A container treatment plant according to claim 1, in addition with a
fault reporting device (140) for emitting a fault report if a comparison
carried out by the comparator device (150) reveals that the detection
result of the detection device (100) is not equal to the container
nominal value for the at least one treatment element (11 to 19, 21 to 27,
31).

9. A container treatment plant according to claim 8, in addition with a
display device (130) for displaying a detection result of the detection
device (100) and/or a comparison result of the comparator device (150)
and/or a list compiled by the list compilation device (160) and/or a
calculation result of the calculation device (170) and/or a stop of the
container treatment plant and/or a fault report.

10. A container treatment plant according to claim 1, in addition with a
plurality of plant modules (10, 20, 30, 40) for carrying out a
pre-determined treatment of the containers (2, 3), wherein each of the
plurality of different plant modules (10, 20, 30, 40) has some of the
plurality of treatment elements (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31).

11. A container treatment plant according to claim 10, wherein each of the
plurality of different plant modules (10, 20, 30, 40) has a plant module
control device (60) for controlling an operation of the plant module (10,
20, 30, 40), and wherein the plant module control devices (60) are
connected in series.

12. A container treatment plant according to claim 10, wherein each of the
plurality of different plant modules has a plant module control device
(60) for controlling an operation of the plant module (10, 20, 30, 40),
and wherein the plant module control devices (60) are connected by way of
a communication bus system.

13. A container treatment plant according to any claim 10, wherein the
plurality of plant modules (10, 20, 30, 40) comprises a stretch blow
moulding module (10) for carrying out a stretch blow moulding method in
which containers for receiving a product are shaped from pre-forms (2)
and/or a filling module (20) for filling the containers (2, 3) with at
least one product and closing the containers (2, 3) and/or a labelling
module (30) for labelling the containers (2, 3) and/or a packing module
(40) for packing the filled and labelled containers (2, 3).

14. A container treatment plant according to claim 13, wherein the
plurality of treatment elements (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31) comprises a
formula for the treatment of containers (2) in a blow moulding device of
the stretch blow moulding module (10).

15. A container treatment method for the treatment of containers capable
of being filled with a product with a container treatment plant which has
a plurality of treatment elements (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31), wherein each
treatment element (11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31) is used for a pre-determined
treatment of the containers and each treatment element (11 to 19, 21 to
27, 31) has associated therewith a container nominal value which
indicates which type of container (2, 3) the treatment element (11 to 19,
21 to 27, 31) can treat, and wherein the method comprises the steps:
detection of properties of one of the containers (2, 3) to be treated,
and comparison of a detection result of the detection device (100) with
the container nominal value for at least one treatment element (11 to 19,
21 to 27, 31).

Description:

[0001]The present invention relates to a container treatment plant and a
container treatment method for the treatment of containers capable of
being filled with a product.

[0002]Container treatment plants usually have a plurality of modules, such
as for example a stretch/blow mould module, a filling module, a labelling
module and a packing module. In the stretch blow (mould) module,
pre-forms are stretched and blow-moulded into containers, for example
bottles. In the filling module the containers are filled and closed. In
the labelling module the containers are labelled and in the packing
module the containers are packed. Each of these plant modules thus
performs a special treatment of the containers, such as stretch blow
moulding, filling, labelling etc. In addition, inspection means and
checking devices are usually present in or on the plant, which checks the
containers for defects so that defective containers can be separated out.

[0003]To this end a container treatment plant comprises as a rule a
plurality of different fixtures or treatment elements which are capable
of being used in the various treatments of the containers. Treatment
elements of this type are for example an inlet star and a heating mandrel
of the stretch blow (mould) module, a filling valve of the filling
module, a label gripper and a glue scraper of the labelling module etc.,
in order to name only at least a few of the numerous treatment elements.

[0004]When changing the type of the containers in a filling line of the
container treatment plant it is frequently necessary for even at least a
few of these fixtures or treatment elements to be exchanged.

[0005]DE 199 41 485 A1 discloses a packing machine, in particular for
producing packages containing products. The packing machine has various
format-dependent components which are provided with codes readable by a
reading sensor. Wrong or absent format-dependent components are displayed
to the user.

[0006]DE 693 04 419 T2 discloses a working head changer for a rotation
system for the treatment of containers. In this case, in particular,
changing a heating mandrel is described.

[0007]To this end, it has been necessary until now in the prior art,
however, for almost all the treatment elements to be exchanged or
adjusted by an operator by hand. This is highly demanding in terms of
time and cost, however, since both considerable working force is required
and prolonged re-fitting and thus stoppage times of the container
treatment plants are necessary.

[0008]Consequently the object of the present invention is to make
available a container treatment plant and a container treatment method
for the treatment of containers capable of being filled with a product,
by which the changing of the containers in the filling line of the
container treatment plant is simplified and made time- and
cost-effective.

[0009]The object is attained by a container treatment plant for the
treatment of containers capable of being filled with a product according
to claim 1.

[0010]The container treatment plant comprises a plurality of treatment
elements, each treatment element being used for a pre-determined
treatment of the containers and each treatment element having associated
therewith a container nominal value which indicates which type of
container the treatment element can treat, a detection device for
detecting properties of one of the containers to be treated, and a
comparator device for comparing a detection result of the detection
device with the container nominal value for at least one treatment
element.

[0011]Advantageous arrangements of the apparatus are set out in the
dependent claims.

[0012]The container treatment plant can, in addition, have an adaptor
device for adapting at least one treatment element of the plurality of
treatment elements if a comparison carried out by the comparator device
reveals that the detection result of the detection device is not equal to
the container nominal value for the at least one treatment element.

[0013]It is advantageous if the adaptor device is designed in such a way
that it adapts the at least one treatment element of the plurality of
treatment elements by exchanging the at least one treatment element.

[0014]The adaptor device can also, however, be advantageously designed in
such a way that it adapts the at least one treatment element of the
plurality of treatment elements by adjusting the at least one treatment
element.

[0015]It is also possible for the container treatment plant to comprise a
list compilation device for compiling a list in which the treatment
elements are listed for which the comparison carried out by the
comparator device reveals that the detection result of the detection
device is not equal to the container nominal value for the at least one
treatment element.

[0016]In addition, the container treatment plant can have a calculation
device for calculating a sequence of adapting at least one treatment
element of the plurality of treatment elements, in which sequence an
opening of a protection device of the container treatment plant is not
impeded by the adaptation of at least one treatment element of the
plurality of treatment elements.

[0017]In addition, a device may be present for stopping the container
treatment plant if a comparison carried out by the comparator device
reveals that the detection result of the detection device is not equal to
the container nominal value for the at least one treatment element.

[0018]As a further possibility the container treatment plant has a fault
reporting device for emitting a fault report if a comparison carried out
by the comparator device reveals that the detection result of the
detection device is not equal to the container nominal value for the at
least one treatment element.

[0019]It is preferable for the container treatment plant to have a display
device for displaying a detection result of the detection device and/or a
comparison result of the comparator device and/or a list compiled by the
list compilation device and/or a calculation result of the calculation
device and/or a stop of the container treatment plant and/or a fault
report.

[0020]The container treatment plant can have a plurality of plant modules
for carrying out a pre-determined treatment of the containers, each of
the plurality of different plant modules having some of the plurality of
treatment elements. In this case each of the plurality of different plant
modules can have a plant module control device for controlling an
operation of the plant module, and the plant module control devices can
be connected in series.

[0021]The plant module control devices can be connected by way of a
communication bus system.

[0022]It is advantageous if the plurality of plant modules comprises a
stretch blow moulding module for carrying out a stretch blow moulding
method in which containers for receiving a product are shaped from
pre-forms and/or a filling module for filling the containers with at
least one product and closing the containers and/or a labelling module
for labelling the containers and/or a packing module for packing the
filled and labelled containers.

[0023]The plurality of treatment elements can comprise a formula for the
treatment of containers in a blow moulding device of the stretch blow
moulding module.

[0024]The object is additionally attained by a container treatment method
according to claim 15.

[0025]The container treatment method is used for the treatment of
containers capable of being filled with a product with a container
treatment plant which has a plurality of treatment elements, each
treatment element being used for a pre-determined treatment of the
containers and each treatment element having associated therewith a
container nominal value which indicates which type of container the
treatment element can treat. In this case the method comprises the steps:
detection of properties of one of the containers to be treated, and
comparison of a detection result of the detection device with the
container nominal value for at least one treatment element.

[0026]The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to
the accompany drawing and by way of an embodiment. In the drawing

[0027]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a container treatment plant
for the treatment of containers capable of being filled with a product
according to a first embodiment;

[0028]FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of a logic structure for the
operation of the container treatment plant associated with an adaptor
device, as shown in FIG. 1, and

[0029]FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of a container treatment plant
for the treatment of containers capable of being filled with a product
according to a second embodiment.

FIRST EMBODIMENT

[0030]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a container treatment plant
1 for the treatment of containers capable of being filled with a product.
Pre-forms 2 of plastics material or glass containers 3 are supplied to
the container treatment plant. The container treatment plant comprises a
stretch blow mould module 10, a filling module or an automatic filling
module changing means 20, a labelling module 30 and a packing module 40.
The stretch blow mould module 10 and the filling module 20 are provided
in each case with a protection device 4 in order to screen the stretch
blow mould module 10 and the filling module 20 off from external
influences or operating personnel from parts of the plant module which
could possibly endanger them during the operation of the plant.

[0031]In the stretch blow mould module 10, pre-forms 2 of plastics
material, such as for example polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or
polyethylene (PP), are heated in a heating device 11 which comprises a
heating mandrel or an automatic heating mandrel changing means 12, a
screening plate or an automatic screening plate changing means 13 and
reflectors or an automatic reflector changing means 14, and are shaped by
means of a stretch blow moulding method into a container, such as for
example a bottle, for a product, such as for example a liquid. To this
end the stretch blow mould module 10 additionally comprises a stretch
rod/blow moulding nozzle or an automatic stretch rod/blow moulding nozzle
changing means 15a, a stretch curve/base curve automatic stretch
curve/base curve adjusting or changing means 15b, a blow moulding device
or an automatic blow moulding device changing means 16, a track setting
device 17, a roll distance setting device 18 and clamps or an automatic
clamp changing means 19 for gripping the containers.

[0032]During the supply of glass bottles 3 to the container treatment
plant 1 the stretch blow mould module 10 can be by-passed. It should be
pointed out that, in the sense of this description, the containers
capable of being filled with a product should be taken to mean in
particular the pre-forms 2, the containers or plastics material bottles
produced therefrom and the glass bottles 3.

[0033]The containers for the product, which are produced from the stretch
blow mould module 10, are supplied by way of conveying devices such as
for example conveying turntables TK, to the filling module 20 which fills
the containers with at least one product and then closes them To this end
the filling module 20 comprises a cleaning device 21 with a sterilization
station 22 and a rinser 23 for cleaning the containers, a product-mixing
device 24 for mixing a product to be poured into the containers, a
closure cap station 25 for the supply and application of closure caps on
the containers, and a diversion star or clamps 26 for the further
transport of the containers. If necessary, the containers arriving from
the stretch blow mould module 10 are temporarily stored or buffered in a
dynamic buffer 27.

[0034]After that, the filled and closed containers are supplied to the
labelling module 30, are labelled thereby by means of at least one
labelling device 31 and are then supplied by way of conveying devices,
such as for example conveying turntables TK, to the packing module 40 in
which the containers are packed.

[0035]In addition, the container treatment plant 1 comprises testing
devices 50 for testing the containers 2 treated by means of the container
treatment plant 1. In this case, as shown in FIG. 1, a testing device 50
is provided between the stretch blow mould module 10 and the filling
module 20 and a further testing device 50 is provided between the
labelling module 30 and the packing module 40. If necessary, however, the
testing devices 50 can also be provided at other or further places in the
container treatment plant 1. Defective containers can be separated out
with the aid of a test result of the testing devices 50 before further
treatment by other modules of the plant.

[0036]In addition, each of the modules 10, 20, 30 and 40 of the plant
comprises a plant module control device 60, which can be for example a
programmable [logic] control (PLC), as indicated in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1 the
plant module control devices 60 are connected in series. The
communication of the plant module control devices 60 between one another
can be carried out by way of a wireless local [area] network (wireless
LAN) or by way of Bluetooth.

[0037]In order to detect properties of the containers, the container
treatment plant 1 additionally comprises a detection device 100 which can
be a camera for example. The detection device 100 can also, however, be
any sensor which is suitable for detecting properties of the containers,
such as for example the geometry and/or the weight of the container. A
sensor of this type can operate for example on the basis of an optical,
magnetic or mechanical principle and so on. The detection device 100 is
connected to the plant module control device 60 of the stretch blow mould
module 10.

[0038]As shown in FIG. 2, each plant module control device 60 has a
determining device 110, a comparator device 150, a list compilation
device 160 and a calculation device 170. In this case the determining
device 110 is used to determine the treatment elements mounted in the
container treatment plant 1 and treatment results to be achieved by means
of treatment elements or formulae for the treatment of the containers
which are described in greater detail below. To this end the treatment
elements can be provided with RFID chips (RFID: radio frequency
identification) and/or a code, such as for example a barcode or another
two-dimensional code, which are readable by wireless or in accordance
with an optical, magnetic or mechanical principle and so on. The function
of the comparator device 150, the list compilation device 160 and the
calculation device 170 will be described in greater detail below.

[0039]In addition, the container-treatment plant 1 has an adaptor device
120 shown in FIG. 2 for adapting the treatment elements mounted in the
container treatment plant 1 and treatment results to be achieved by means
of treatment elements or formulae for the treatment of the containers
which are described in greater detail below. This means that in the sense
of this description the term "treatment element" covers both a tool, such
as for example the clips 19, and treatment results to be achieved by
means of treatment elements as well as formulae for the treatment of the
containers.

[0041]In the event of a fault during the operation of the container
treatment plant 1 a fault report device 140 can emit a fault report, such
as for example an optical or acoustic alarm. The alarm can also be
displayed by means of the display device 130.

[0042]As described above, each of the plant modules 10, 20, 30 and 40
carries out a special or pre-determined treatment of the containers, such
as stretch blow moulding, filling, labelling etc.

[0043]To this end, each of the plant modules 10, 20, 30 and 40 of the
container treatment plant 1 comprises a plurality of different fixtures
or treatment elements which are capable of being used in the various
treatments of the containers. This means that the blow mould module 10
comprises for example the following treatment elements: heating mandrel
12, screening plate 13, reflectors 14, stretch rod/blow moulding nozzle
15, track setting device 17, roll distance setting device 18, clamps 19
etc.

[0044]In addition, bottles are also meant in the following when the
containers prepared from the pre-forms 2a or the glass containers 3 are
mentioned.

[0045]Expressed more precisely, the individual named plant modules 10, 20,
30 and 40 of the container treatment plant and plant modules not shown
(pasteurization module for pasteurizing products capable of being poured
into containers, container cleaning module for cleaning containers and
preferably returnable bottles, box washing module for washing boxes) of
the container treatment plant comprise for example the following
individual treatment elements and treatment results to be achieved by
means of treatment elements or formulae, in which for the sake of
simplicity the individual treatment elements have not all been
illustrated in FIG. 1. In this case variable parameters are also
illustrated in each case. [0046]1) The container treatment plant 1
generally comprises for example: automatic speed setting (output of
bottles per hour); differentiation of material (PET/PP; different types
of glass)-->setting of contact pressure of filling valves, blow
moulding nozzle, label contact pressure); setting buffers to the maximum
buffering time required; measurement, detection and display of filling
states (pre-forms, filler/mixer-->product to be poured and/or
additives therefor (CO2, N2), sterilization liquid, closure
caps, intermediate layers and foils for the pallets (emission of fault
reports and new orders), conversion to further drive units, for example
in order to adapt conveying speeds. [0047]2) The stretch blow mould
module 10 comprises for example: lance in the case of linear or rotation
rinser (pre-form blowing) and conveying holders therefor; track distance
of a pre-form supply; distance of the rolls of a roll sorting means for
pre-forms; distance of receiving means from a vertical conveyor for
pre-forms; size of a set of toothing of an inlet star (saw tooth star)
for conveying pre-forms; heating mandrel (diameter and height and
stroke); distance of the heating cabinets from pre-forms or of individual
heating radiators from the pre-forms (profiling); distances of heating
radiators from one another; diameter of receiving means of screening
plates for heating mandrels or pre-forms; a formula for the heat
treatment of pre-forms and/or expanding of pre-forms (time and magnitude
of pre-blowing pressure, a finished blowing pressure, the beginning of
pre-blowing, the beginning of rinsing, a temperature of the pre-form, a
temperature of the wall of a blow mould, a temperature of a mould base, a
time of the beginning of rinsing, a pressure pattern, a surface cooling
of the pre-form, an aperture cooling of the pre-form, temperature of the
blow moulds, combinations thereof or the like); clamps on transfer stars;
blow moulds and bases; stretch rods or stretch rod tips; blow moulding
nozzles (diameter); change in the base curve; setting of the stretch
speed with servo or linear drive or change of a stretch curve to a
further stretch curve with a different pitch; minimization of pressure of
pressure cushions (no bottles--less pressure necessary as a
whole--savings in energy) orientation of bottles towards the outlet star
(and holders therefor); in the case of servo-driven mould carriers:
opening stroke or change in the opening angle (in the case of bottles of
small diameter the mould carriers need not go up so far and so time can
be saved and wear/forces are reduced) [0048]3) The filling module or the
automatic filling module changing means 20 comprises for example: the
product itself; clamps of the transfer stars; change of the filling
valves; change of the closure caps and guides therefor; inlet;
distribution screw conveyor, distribution star; guiding of containers;
neck handling: neck stars, clamps; base handling: fixtures and treatment
elements respectively; rinser clamps; neck holders in a filling or
closing turntable; lowering star; protective chamber sheets in the
filling means; filling valve: spacer members in a vacuum valve/filling
valve; centring bells on the filling valve; return air pipes, elongate
pipes; closing means: closing cones or heads; closure channels; gripping
and positioning station; towing shoe (the closure itself is pulled off
from the bottle by the shoe). [0049]4) The labelling module 30 comprises
for example: outlet tongue; guiding curve machine inlet; guiding curve
machine outlet; inlet star; tongue for inlet star; locking star is
present; distribution screw conveyors; inlet guide on the outside and on
the inside; transfer screw conveyors; braking roll for "staniolization";
base gripping means; tilting gripping means; centring bell; label
gripping means; bottle gripping means (neck handling gripping means, base
levellers); gripping cylinders; receiving mandrels; displacement gripping
means; label dispensers and slides therefor; gluing rollers; glue (hot
glue, cold glue); control strip guides; glue scrapers; means for scraping
off labels; glue segment spacers; means for brushing on labels (diameter,
height, hardness); rolling on (''); compartments (for an exact guidance
of the bottle in the inlet/outlet of the labelling module); sponge roll
on the conveyor belt (for pressing on the label, variation in the
distance and diameter, in a manner dependent upon the diameter of the
bottle); curved segment of the bench (curved segment for controlling the
rotation of the bottle, vs. servo); speed regulation of the servo drive
(adaptation to new angles to be turned); changing mandrel in the sleeve;
correct devices are present/turned on; correct labels inserted (dependent
upon the client). [0050]5) The packing module 40 comprises for example:
change of the distribution strips; change of the expansion wedge in the
case of two strips; change of the push rods in another machine
distribution; change of the support posts; multiple- or entire-layer
packing and palletizing gripper heads of widely differing types; row-wise
packing and palletizing gripper heads of widely differing types;
changeable separation sheets for clamping gripping means; guiding metal
sheets for bottle bench; covering hoods for dust protection; insertion
frames for the packing-in of container; automatic top load calculation
(how many layers of bottles should be arranged one on top of the other in
a pallet, without the bottle being damaged or crushed) and adaptation of
the layers. [0051]6) The testing device 50 comprises for example: guide
rails; bottle gripping means; programs for detection. [0052]7) The
pasteurization module comprises for example a change from one formula to
another, an automatic conversion of the heating or cooling power of
heaters or coolers, an automatic adaptation of the height of blowing
appliances to a new height of a container. [0053]8) The container
cleaning module comprises for example a change: the attachment members
and a vibrator for pushing tasks in the conveying of bottles, a position
of a feed bench field for bottles for the insertion of containers into
the machine, various attachments for dispensing from the machine in the
case of dispensing in the channels, temperature and concentration of the
cleaning liquid with which the bottles or containers come into contact,
pressure and directions of jets of cleaning or rinsing agents which are
directed onto or into the container, exchange of conveying baskets in
which the containers are moved through the container cleaning module,
guiding metal sheets provided with a special bending for stopping
containers not present in the correct position (containers which have
fallen over or are horizontal), changing the width of conveyor conveying
channels (dependent upon the diameter of the container). [0054]9) The box
washing module comprises for example: settings of a guide rail, on which
the boxes are guided during the conveying, and of a cam move and other
software changes.

[0055]In particular, specific packing material determined by the adaptor
device on the basis of the detection result, such as labels, information
chips to be entered in the containers such as RFID-transponders, printer
ink for direct printing on labels or on the containers, printing
positions or the best before date can be automatically adapted.

[0056]The specified plant modules 10, 20, 30 and 40 and the numerous
treatment elements thereof specified above are known in each case from
the prior art and are consequently not described in greater detail here.
It is preferable for the respective adaptation of the treatment elements
to be carried out fully automatically.

[0057]The operation of the container treatment plant 1 in conjunction with
the adaptor device 120 is described in greater detail below.

[0058]In a filling line of the container treatment plant 1 the detection
device 100 detects properties of one of the containers 2, 3 to be
treated, as described above. The detection results of the detection
device 100 are supplied to the comparator device 150. The comparator
device 150 then carries out a comparison of a detection result or the
detection results of the detection device 100 with a container nominal
value for the plurality of treatment elements 11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31.

[0059]The container nominal value indicates what type of container 2, 3
the treatment element 11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31 can treat. That means that
the container nominal value reveals for example whether the container 2,
3 is a pre-form 2 for a plastics material bottle holding 0.5 litres for
example, a pre-form 2 for a plastics material bottle holding 1.0 litre
for example, a pre-form 2 for a plastics material bottle holding 1.5
litres for example and so on, or a pre-form 2 of PET or PP, or a glass
bottle 3 and so on. Further values which can be associated with the
nominal value of a container 2, 3 are: A height and/or a diameter of a
mouthpiece of a pre-form 2 or container 2, 3; a diameter of a conveying
ring (bulging in the shoulder region of plastics material bottles, in
particular PET bottles); an overall height or a maximum diameter of a
container, such as for example a bottle; a diameter at a specified height
for engaging treatment units, specifically the diameters directly above
and below the conveying ring, a ground clearance of a shaped-out
container, for example a bottle (distance between feet of the bottle to
the injection point); a material or a material composition of the
container 2, 3; a crystallinity of the material of the container 2, 3; a
type of the thread and/or of a closure (for example cork, snap closure,
crown cork) of the container 2, 3; a diameter and a height of the
closure; a colour of the container material; a wall thickness of the
container 2, 3 in specified regions; strengths, such as for example top
load, of the container 2, 3.

[0060]The container nominal value can be stored beforehand in a memory
device (not illustrated). This memory device can be in particular the
RFID chip or code mentioned above, which is attached to the treatment
elements. It is preferable for it to be a barcode.

[0061]If a comparison carried out by the comparator device 150 shows that
the detection result of the detection device 100 is not equal to the
container nominal value for the at least one treatment element 11 to 19,
21 to 27, 31, the adaptor device 120 can adapt at least one treatment
element 11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31 of the plurality of treatment elements 11
to 19, 21 to 27, 31. This means that the adaptor device 120 can either
exchange or adjust the at least one treatment element 11 to 19, 21 to 27,
31 of the plurality of treatment elements 11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31.

[0062]In addition, the list compilation device 160 can compile a list in
which the treatment elements 11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31 are listed for which
the comparison carried out by the comparator device 150 reveals that the
detection result of the detection device is not equal to the container
nominal value for the at least one treatment element 11 to 19, 21 to 27,
31. The list can be displayed on the display device 130. In this case the
list can give indications as to which treatment elements are still to be
exchanged or adjusted, and/or indicate which treatment elements are just
exchanged or adjusted. In this way, an operator can choose whether the
treatment elements still to be exchanged or adjusted should be
automatically exchanged or adjusted, i.e. adapted, or whether the
operator wishes to adapt specified treatment elements himself or herself
in an optional manner.

[0063]It is preferable for the calculation device 170 to carry out a
calculation of a sequence which is a sequence of an adaptation of at
least one treatment element 11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31 of the plurality of
treatment elements 11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31. This sequence is a
particularly advantageously a sequence in which an opening of the
protection device 4 of the container treatment plant 1 is not impeded by
the adaptation of at least one treatment element 11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31
of the plurality of treatment elements 11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31. This
sequence too can be displayed on the display device 130.

[0064]If the comparison carried out by the comparator device 150 reveals
that the detection result of the detection device is not equal to the
container nominal value for the at least one treatment element 11 to 19,
21 to 27, 31, the control devices 60 of the plant modules prevent
operation of the container treatment plant 1. This means that, if the
container treatment plant 1 is still in operation when the comparison
carried out by the comparator device 150 gives the result specified, the
container treatment plant 1 is brought by a device (not shown) to a stop
of the container treatment plant 1. If the container treatment plant 1,
however, is not in operation or is stopped when the comparison carried
out by the comparator device 150 gives the result specified, starting of
the container treatment plant 1 is made impossible or prevented. To this
end the container treatment plant 1 can comprise a device (not shown) for
preventing a start of the container treatment plant 1. The forcible stop
of the container treatment plant 1 or the forcible prevention of a start
of the container treatment plant 1 can likewise be displayed on the
display device 130.

[0065]In the cases specified, in which adaptation of at least one
treatment element 11 to 19, 21 to 27, 31 is necessary, a fault report can
additionally be emitted by means of a fault report device 140 and it can
also be displayed on the display device 130.

[0066]Since the individual control devices 60 of the plant modules
according to this embodiment are connected in series, it is possible for
example for the plant module control device 60 of the filling module 20
to build on the results which have already been achieved by the plant
module control device 60 of the stretch blow mould module 10. This means
that the comparator device 150, the list compilation device 160 and the
calculation device 170 of the plant module control device 60 of the
filling module 20 can make use not only of the container nominal values
as is the case for the comparator device 150, the list compilation device
160 and the calculation device 170 of the plant module control device 60
of the stretch blow mould module 10, but also in consideration of those
values already used by the comparator device 150, the list compilation
device 160 and the calculation device 170 of the plant module control
device 60 of the stretch blow mould module 10.

SECOND EMBODIMENT

[0067]Apart from the design of the control of the plant modules 10, 20, 30
and 40, the second embodiment is identical to the first embodiment. In
the following, therefore, only the parts of the second embodiment which
are different from the first embodiment are described. The same parts and
parts with the same significance are provided with the same reference
numbers.

[0068]As it is evident from FIG. 3, the individual plant control devices
60 are not connected in series, as in the case of the first embodiment,
but they are connected to a central plant control device 70 by way of a
bus system. This central plant control device 70 is superordinate to the
individual plant control devices 60 and can give the individual plant
control devices 60 control commands which the individual plant control
devices 60 can implement for the plant modules 10, 20, 30 and 40. As is
additionally indicated in FIG. 3, both the individual plant control
devices 60 and the central plant control device 70 have a CPU (central
processing unit).

[0069]According to the second embodiment the central plant control device
70 comprises the comparator device 150, the list compilation device 160
and the calculation device 170. The central plant control device 70 then
gives each of the plant module control devices 60 commands on the basis
of the results achieved by the comparator device 150, the list
compilation device 160 and the calculation device 170.

[0070]As shown in FIG. 3, the individual treatment elements are associated
with other plant control devices 60, as shown in FIG. 1. This association
can also be chosen differently, depending upon requirements.

[0071]All the other elements and functions in this embodiment are the same
as those of the first embodiment and will therefore not be described once
more here.

(General)

[0072]All the arrangements of the container treatment plant 1 and of the
container treatment method, which are described above, can be used
individually or in any possible combinations. In this case in particular
the following modifications are possible.

[0073]The container treatment plant 1 can also be controlled by way of a
separate computer. In this case an interface can be present on the
detection device 100, which in particular can be a camera. The detection
device 100 can communicate with the separate computer by way of the
interface, for example by wires, by radio etc.

[0074]The assessment of the results, which are detected by the detection
device 100 and which can be signals, can also be carried out directly in
the detection device 100, which is a sensor for example.

[0075]By way of example, the adaptor device 120 can be a robot which shuts
down all the treatment elements of the container treatment plant 1 and
makes the necessary adaptations of the treatment elements.

[0076]It is additionally possible for the exchange of the treatment
elements to be carried out without tools by means of the adaptor device
120. This is possible in particular for the pivot arm and/or the heating
mandrels 12 and/or the screen plate 13 for example.

[0077]In addition, the adaptation of the treatment elements of the filling
module 20, the labelling module 30 and the packing module 40 as well as
the testing devices 50 can be carried out automatically if a suitable
choice of the formula has been made on the stretch blow mould module 10,
for example by an operator. The input of the operator could be undertaken
in practice by the choice of the formula, or by the input of the choice
of the formula, in particular by way of a switching device (not shown),
such as for example a push button.

[0078]It is additionally possible for the adaptor device 120 to adapt only
part of the treatment elements, which have been specified as a whole to
be adapted. In this case it is possible for at least two treatment
elements to be changed automatically by the adaptor device 120, whereas
the other treatment elements, which are specified as still to be adapted,
are adapted by an operator. Instead of the at least two treatment
elements, it is also possible for at least three or more treatment
elements to be changed automatically by the adaptor device 120.

[0079]All the features disclosed in the application documents are claimed
as being essential to the invention, insofar as they are novel either
individually or in combination as compared with the prior art.